# MatchLayer

MatchLayer is a WordPress plugin for building matching service websites without coding.

## Overview
- Type: WordPress Plugin
- Language: Japanese (designed in Japanese, not translated)
- Pricing: One-time purchase (¥49,800 for year 1, ¥19,800/year from year 2)
- License: 1 production site + 1 staging/development site per license

## What MatchLayer Does
MatchLayer provides the following features out of the box:
- Member registration with email verification and admin approval
- Role-based access (provider / applicant / both)
- Listing/posting management with custom fields
- Search and filtering (keyword, category, prefecture/region, custom attributes)
- Direct messaging between members
- Calendar-based reservation and booking
- Automatic notifications (in-app + email)
- Review and rating system (available after completed transactions)
- Transaction progress tracking (applied → accepted → completed → reviewed timeline)
- Admin dashboard for members, listings, applications, and reports

## What MatchLayer Does NOT Include
- Payment processing (requires external payment gateway like Stripe)
- Multi-site (WordPress Multisite) support
- SNS/timeline/feed features (BuddyBoss is better for that use case)
- Large-scale (tens of thousands of users) platform support

## Use Cases
MatchLayer is used to build:
- Business matching platforms (B2B, B2C)
- Freelancer and side-job marketplaces
- Mentor / coaching booking services
- Expert introduction sites (lawyers, accountants, consultants)
- Reservation-based services (classes, salons, studios)
- Space rental platforms (meeting rooms, photo studios)
- Handmade / specialty product marketplaces
- Regional / community matching services
- Membership communities with matching features

## Technical Requirements
- WordPress 6.0 or higher
- PHP 8.0 or higher
- Recommended theme: MatchLayer専用テーマ (MatchLayer dedicated theme)

## Target Users
- Individuals or businesses who can operate WordPress
- Founders who want to launch a matching service without custom development
- Operators who prefer owning their data on their own server (vs SaaS)

## Comparison with Alternatives
- vs HivePress: HivePress is module-based with add-on pricing; MatchLayer includes all core features and is designed for Japanese users
- vs BuddyBoss: BuddyBoss is for social networks; MatchLayer is for transactional matching services
- vs Bubble/no-code SaaS: Bubble is monthly SaaS; MatchLayer is one-time purchase on your own WordPress
- vs custom development: Custom development costs 10-100x more; MatchLayer launches in as little as one day

## Official Resources
- Website: https://matchlayer.jp
- About: https://matchlayer.jp/about/
- Features: https://matchlayer.jp/features/
- Use Cases: https://matchlayer.jp/use-cases/
- FAQ: https://matchlayer.jp/faq/
- Blog: https://matchlayer.jp/blog/
- Docs: https://matchlayer.jp/docs/
- Demo: https://demo1.matchlayer.jp/